Read the Introduction and First Chapter of Brian Wilson’s Memoir

I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir is out October 11

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

On October 11, Brian Wilson will release his new memoir I Am Brian Wilson (via Da Capo Press). The book’s introduction and first chapter are now available to read. The intro (which Wilson calls the Overture) is set at a concert of his at London’s Royal Festival Hall in 2004. The book begins, “It’s been hard and it’s been easy. Mostly, it’s been both.” The Overture closes with Wilson figuring out where all of his loved ones will be seated in the crowd, there to offer their support for him.

The first chapter of I Am Brian Wilson is called “Fear.” (It runs from page 9 to page 33, but only 12 to 25 are currently available.) In the available portion, Wilson writes about his daily life. He also reminisces while looking at the cover of the Beach Boys’ 1970 record Sunflower. He sees that he’s in good physical shape in the photo, although “maybe not happy.” It also leads to a discussion about his status in the band: He is literally in the middle of everyone in the cover photo, but feels like he was not necessarily in the center musically. Elsewhere in the sneak peek, there are photos of Brian Wilson, his family, and the Beach Boys. Preview I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoirhere.

In a recent interview about his memoir, Wilson revealed that he is working on a new album. The record, which would follow last year’s No Pier Pressure, has “rock’n’roll classics” and may also include original material, he said.